A gutted group of pensioners have told how their cherished community centre has still yet to reopen after the pandemic.
The Calder Gardens pensioners in Wester Hailes have watched as every hub around them has got back up and running while they “have been left to waste away while the council treats [them] like children.”
Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, the body responsible for the hall, confirmed to Edinburgh Live that the hall would reopen some time next month, but did not specify a date. It said the hall has required work and renovations to reopen safely.
“Our community rooms have been closed for two years and seven months,” 66-year-old Margaret said.
“We understand that it had to be closed during Covid-19, but every other centre around us has reopened and we’ve been left waiting and waiting and waiting," she added.
“We’ve never been so fed up with anything, and it’s not fair. They’ve taken away our community,” Carolina, 63, added.
On Tuesday morning, Margaret, Carolina, and Lesley, 73, gathered over tea to vent their frustrations with the council.
The women live in a City of Edinburgh Council sheltered housing community with about 50 other houses near Wester Hailes. At the end of Margaret’s street, there is a community hall where the Calder Garden’s community used to thrive and socialise.
READ MORE: Edinburgh primary school targeted by vandals leaving parents fuming
It has never reopened since the pandemic, and the three women are demanding answers.
“We’re told something different every time we ask about it. The council are treating us like bloody children. Nobody keeps us updated, we can’t get straight answers, and they don’t care about us,” Margaret said.
“No matter what we say or who we say it to, what’s the point? Nothing gets done anyway and they don’t care.”
“Mentally, this is no good for us,” Carolina added. “I’ve never had so many pyjama days in all my life. I have no reason to get out of bed or put clothes on. I have nowhere to go anymore.”
Margaret recently sat with her son in her lounge and found herself crying unexpectedly.
“I told him I want out of here. I don’t know how it happened, but we’re all depressed and lonely stuck inside on our own,” she said.
“I’ve got a lot of health problems, and I can’t go out much but no matter what I could always walk down the street to get to the hall. Things will never ever be the same,” Margaret continued.
“Mentally, I feel like I could flip anytime. I’m on the edge of a coin and I don’t know where it’s come from. I feel like we’re in the Scots waiting room and I’m just waiting to go.
“We’re here, our rent is paid, we get our call [from a council warden] once a fortnight, and so the council have forgotten us and just leave us to it. They don’t care about our mental health. Most of us just sit here fading away.”
The ladies recalled the recent death of a friend and neighbour. Margaret isn’t naive and understands she’s at an age where friends and neighbours fall ill and pass on, but she is struggling to grapple with grief and loss alone.
“It’s not nice to be in this place mentally. I don’t want to see everyone around me dying, and I don’t have the support of friends and neighbours,” Margaret said.
Before the pandemic, the ladies recalled many happy memories with an unlimited number of friends and neighbours at the Calder Garden community hall.
Formerly, the community celebrated Christmases, birthdays, holidays and special events at the hall together. A since disintegrated committee also organised frequent community meals and bingo events.
Margaret said her favourite moments at the hall were often unplanned. In the evenings, she walked to the hall to sit with her friends drinking tea and doing jigsaws.
“It was great at night. Now I sit here looking at these four walls alone. We can go to the centre to do laundry. That’s all that’s left now,” Margaret said.
She added: “I remember at Christmas time, we made all of the food here at my house and we took it into the hall. Everyone in the community was there and we all had a drink together and a good blather.
“That’s all gone now. Only a few of us can be [in the hall] at one time. There will be no more bingo, no more meals, no more Christmases together. We’ll never get those moments back. The good memories are all we have left and that’s it.”
The EHSCP has not given a specific reopening date and the ladies say communication about their beloved hub has been sparse.
A spokesperson for the EHSCP said it is working closely with the council to enable the community hall to reopen next month.
They continued: “Whilst some [community halls] have since reopened, the community room at Calder Gardens has required some additional work to ensure all recently introduced health and safety measures are in place to enable safe reopening. The silver lining is that the extended closure has enabled us to completely upgrade and redecorate the community room.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming residents back in due course and we’re confident it will become a well-loved area once again when it reopens next month. Until that time, our support officers are continuing to support Calder Garden residents to check in on them and their wellbeing, as well as helping source activities of interest to them within the local area.”
The partnership failed to specify the new opening hours for the hall, but the authority did confirm there will be new rules in place. It said only ten people at a time in addition to two facilitators/staff will be allowed inside at one time, and only one person will be allowed in the kitchen at any time.
READ NEXT: Leaked messages show Edinburgh landlords discussing price hikes on tenants
Derelict Edinburgh restaurant could be transformed into funky new crazy golf bar
Edinburgh city centre police 'chase' ends in crash as officers lock down street
West Lothian shop keeper hits out after incredible £30,000 electricity bill
Edinburgh McDonald's 'very sorry' after staff member says 'it's not my problem' at mum
